The Indonesian Ministry of Immigration and Corrections issued new nationwide guidelines—Circular Letter (CL) No. 417/2025, effective May 29, 2025 to enhance oversight of foreign nationals and standardize stay permit services. This directive replaces the previous CL 261/2025 and directs immigration offices to collect comprehensive data on foreign residents, enforce stricter controls, and improve application consistency. Two procedural changes are key: first, select groups (elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant or breastfeeding women, emergency situations, and other special cases) are now permitted to submit stay permit applications via walk-in, streamlining access for vulnerable applicants. Second, all stay permit applicants, whether online or in-person must now undergo a photo session and interview within two days of submitting required documents.
While these changes differ slightly from the Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 22/2023 (which mandates photos and interviews more selectively), CL 417/2025 primarily reinforces internal administrative procedures without altering legal requirements. The photo and interview processes appear specifically intended for extensions to existing permits, aligning with the Ministry’s introductory statement on its website. In effect, these are additional steps aimed at improving transparency and enforcement rather than imposing new legal hurdles. Foreign nationals applying for or extending stay permits should be prepared for these administrative measures, though the underlying legal framework remains consistent with existing regulations.
